Students often struggle with selecting a topic for a research paper. The trick is to find one that you find interesting, that piques your curiousity, and with enough information to keep the research challenging, but not impossible. You may need to broaden or narrow your topic, depending on the results of a preliminary search for scholarship on the topic.
Photo by Chris Murphy www.chrism70.com, August 4, 2006 in Midtown, Kansas City, MO, US, using a Canon EOS Digital Rebel.
Courtesy of Creative Commons.
To get an overview on a topic that will help you learn about key people, events, and terminology, consult online and/or print reference sources such as encyclopedias. dictionaries, and handbooks. The library subscribes to two comprehensive online reference databases, each of which contain the full text of a wide variety of reference books.
»» Watch this VIDEO to see how using these reference tools will help you choose a topic
Use broad terminology in a multidisciplinary database to get an idea of the latest "talk" in this area of study. What are the key issues being discussed among scholars on this topic? This strategy may help you to narrow your topic to a managable amount of information or perhaps dissuade you from choosing a topic with very little literature. Lavery Library provides access to several multidisicplinary databases. Here are a few to help you get started:
It's always a good idea to consult your professors to ensure you understand their expectations for assignments. Your professors may have topic suggestions or may be able to help you focus your topic. You may also want to consult with a librarian, as we can assist you with the strategies noted above, and help to get you started on your research. Drop by the library during reference desk hours or contact the librarian in your discipline for help.
Here are some other resources that may help you to choose a topic.